Game



July 27, 1937. H. G. BREITEN'L'l-:IN l 2,088,258

GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 27, 1934 www .ANH

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-(wwl July 27 1937.

H. G. BREITENST'EIN GAME Filed sept. 27, 1954l m www @WW NI Patented July l27,` 1937 iJNirso sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE i n GAME Herbert G. Breitensten, Chicago, Ill.,

assignor The invention relates to improvements in a game of the ball rolling and trapping type.

Such games comprise a board inclined from the horizontal and having ball receiving holes therein for game scoring purposes. AnumberV of balls are projected one at a time by a manually operable projector from the lower to the upper end or Vthe game board. When theV force imparted to eachjball Yin so projecting it has been spent, the balls move by gravity down the board, and if skillfully projected become trapped by holes or pockets'oi various kinds Yhaving nurnbered score values.

The main object of the present invention is to provide improvements in such games which will createunusual ball routingand trapping action to enhance player interest and enthusiasm, thus aording the maximum player amusement.

` Another object is to provide a game board in 20 which a projected ball maygravitate theredown and into a hole therethrough, and thence roll beneath the Vboard and out of the players view,

to a mechanism that will automatically catapult the said ball upwardly through the board and 25 uphill thereon to be trapped by a higher value score pocket or hole.

Still another object is to provide an improved game board play iield arrangement apportioned into separate score areas or zones, whereby when 30v a ball is trapped in a first area it'moves under the board as above stated and when it is thereupon catapulted onto the board again it goes into play in another score area. l

Also it is anobject to provide such a game board in which a ball may drop through a hole in the board, roll thereunder to a catapult, becatapulted back` onto the board vinto a diierent score area,` drop through the board again and roll thereunder to a different catapult, which is 40 actuated to catapult the ball to a third scoring area of maximum value.

Another important object is to provide an irnproved form of catapult which is to be automatically actuated when a ball rolls thereon.

45 ,It is also an object to provide a ball passage on the board closed by a switch device to prevent movement of a ball through the passage, said switch being controlled by a subsequently played ball to permit movement of the rst ball through the passage.

Other important objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilledV in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

y Briefly such important and desirable objects maybe achievedby the practicable `exampleof the game illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein generally the inclined game board embodies a plurality of separated scoring areas or'vzones so that a projected ball must rst be trapped in the first zone to create the action here- 5 tofore described of successively catapulting the ball. Assuming a ball drops through a hole in the iirst zone, it then rolls down an under panel `and is guided onto a catapult which is automatically and electrically operated by the ball itselfto cause the catapult to throw said ball back onto the main board and into the second ball trapping zone. If the ball drops through the proper hole in the second zonerit moves under the game board to another catapult which is similarly actuated to throw the ball upwardly and roll it back onto the game board again, but this time in a third score zone which in the present embodiment constitutes the maximum scoring area. Other features also are involved and will be discussed in detail later. Obviously, in such game,

with the balls disappearing from view and then suddenly catapulting onto the board again, a maximum of player interest will be aroused;

In the drawings illustrating one desirable form, which'the invention may assume in practice:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the game contained in an appropriate cabinet;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the game with `the top, or game board removed, to illustrate a 3h0 thin metal, control plate immediately below the said top or game board;

Figure 3 is a detail plan View of the passage and ball switch feature;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 to illus- 35 j trate the position assumed by the switch or gate when it operates to let a ball move'through the passage;

vFigure 5 is a' transverse cross sectional detailr view through this ball switch structure taken along the line 5*-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a plan View of the game as seen with the top board of Figure l and the metal control plate of Figure 2 'removed to show the bal1`45 routing under panel. n

Figure '7 is a detail, longitudinal sectional View Y through a trap door structure taken along 'the line 'l--l of Figure 1 looking in the indicated direction; 50

FigureV 8 is a detail, longitudinal sectional view through mechanism to illustrate how kcertain movable parts function, as taken along the line 8-8 of Figure', looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a central, longitudinal, side, sectional view through the whole game taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view illustrating the catapult mechanism and taken along the line lil-lil of Figure 6, looking in the indicated direction; and,

Figure il is a longitudinal, detail, sectional view through a circuit closer taken along the line I I-I I of Figure 6, looking in the direction designated by the arrows.

As is usual in this art the game is enclosed in an elongated, or rectangular cabinet E5, having a front wall E5 at the player end, and a rear wall I1 at its other end. The cabinet l5 has a bottom or floor i8 and its open top is closed by the usual glass panel i9.

As shown best in Figures 1 and 9, the upper end of the cabinet just under the glass I9 carries a game board 25 inclined from the horizontal as shown, with its high end at the rear wall Il and its lower end at the front wall i6. Adjacent the sides and upper end of the board 25 is mounted as shown, a U-shaped marginal member 2l forming an oval track for the upper end of the play eld on the top surface of the board 20. At the lower end adjacent the front wall i6 the board 20 carries a cut out plate 22 which along the median line of the game is recessed to form a widening ball passageway 23 and on opposite sides thereof in symmetric formation are provided rounded bays 24. Within each bay 2li the board 2e is provided with a hole 25 and at the front end of the passage 23 the board 2D is formed with a wide transverse slot 25 constituting the score pocket of maximum value as will later appear,

Between the left hand side (as viewed by the player) of the cabinet and the forward edge of the left hand bay 211 is a hood 2l carried on the board 20 and covering a large hole formed in the board through which a ball may be catapulted, as will later appear. In transverse alinement the board 25 carries other catapult hoods 28, 29, 35, 3l and 32, there being a large catapult hole in the board 29 as heretofore described, one of such holes for example under the hood 29 being indicated at 33 in Figure 9 by dotted lines.

A longitudinal rail 34 runs from the right hand edge of the longitudinal hood 32, along the right hand side of the cabinet, and in spaced relation, to form a ball projection passage 35, which at its upper end is provided with a conventional form of one way gate 36 made of light wire. A ball projector 3l operable by a handle 38 shoots balls one at a time through the passage 35, said balls passing through the gate 35 and emerging onto the upper end of the play field. The ball will usually follow the oval track and rebound from a spring bumper 31 at the other side of the board 20. The gate 36 swings upwardly when the ball passes therethrough and engages the glass panel I9 to prevent it from swinging over dead center. Thus, the ball moves therethrough in only one direction as the gate instantly swings back by gravity to close oil the passage 35.

From the left hand side of the hood 32 is extended a longitudinal rail 38 forming with the rail 34 a ball projection passage 39 leading from the hood 32 uphill on the board 20. The end of said passage 33 carries a gate 40 exactly like the gate 36 already described. By means of a curved division member, or partition lll an oval track is formed to lead balls coming through the gate 40 and direct them against a spring bumper ft2 for rebounding action and gravitation down a side area or zone 43. Said zone 43 is further delineated by a longitudinal rail 45 leading to the right hand side of the hood 3 l, thus forming said area coincident with the bay 24 on the right hand side, and running uphill on the board 28 not quite half way.

Contained within said zone 43 are two holes #l5 and 46 formed through the board 2G, with a division block 4l disposed between said two holes. In longitudinal alinement with the hole 56 and between it and the hole 25 at the lower end of said zone 43 is a barrel shaped member simulating a gun or cannon. A hole is formed in the board 2t directly adjacent the muzzle end of the gun 48, said hole normally being closed by a hinged trap door 49 carried by the board 2G.

On the opposite, or left hand side of the board 2G is a curved division member 53 similar to the member 4I already described and serving the same purpose. A rail 5i leads from the hood 2l forming a ball passage 52 having a gate 53 exactly the same as the gate l. A ball catapulted from under the hood 2 rolls uphill in the passage 52 over the board 25, through the gate 53, and is thence guided by the oval form of the division member 50 to rebound from a spring bumper 5G adjacent a rail 55 extending longitudinally to form a closed Zone or area 55 which is the counterpart or" the right zone 43 already described. Within this zone are two holes 5?, 58 separated by a block 59. Also, there is a cannon 55 and trap door 6| just as heretofore pointed out in connection with the zone Z13.

The partition members 4I, 50 are each extended in av curve toward the center by rails 6l', 52 merging at their upper ends into a cannon member 63 of the same type as the cannons 138, Eil.. Thus, is formed an upper Zone or area G3. At the muzzle end of the gun 63 (see Figure 9) is a trap door 64 pivoted at B5 in the forward end of an elongated hole 6G formed in the board 25 under said cannon 63. By means later to be described the door 64 is normally held closed, as shown in Figure 9 so that a ball may be supported thereon. The structure of the trap Adoors 43, 5l is identical with that just described.

In longitudinal alinement with the cannon B3 and thereabove, the board 2i) is provided with an electric circuit controlling hole 66 embraced by an ornamental block 5l to separate it from a second control hole 58 arranged in the board 2Q thereabove. In this Zone 53 are a pair of holes 53 and another pair of holes 'i6 all formed through the board 25. Furthermore, on one side of the gun 63 the board 25 is formed with a hole li having a ball supporting seat 'l2 therein, and on the other side is a hole 13 having a seat lll therein.

Extending longitudinally upwardly on the board 20 from between the catapult hoods 28, 29 is a rail "l5 and similarly from between the hoods 30, 3l extended a rail 15. These rails extend about as far up the board 2D as the bumpers 42, 5A, where they are cross connected by a partition block 'il having its edge facing the front wall I6 formed with arcuate portions to direct balls projected thereagainst down a central passageway 5 formed by a pair of short longitudinal rails "i9 extended respectively as shown in Figure 1 from the two inner catapult hoods 29, 2U. Thus leading upwardly from the hood 29 is a longitudinal passage formed between the rails l5, 79 and leading from the hood 30 is a similar 2,088,258 passagel formed between the one rail 19 and the rail 18.A Each passage 88, 8| ends in a gate 82 similar to the gate 38 heretofore described. Thus, thesmall area at the upper end of the passage 18 forms another separate playvi'leld Zone.

Extending upwardly from each end of the block 11 are curved rails 83 conforming to the'shape of the adjoining members 58, 4|, to formstill another zone 84 on the central portion of the board 28 as shown in Figure 1. The rails 55,15 form a ball projection passage 85 Vleading uphill from the catapult hood A28 VVonto the upper end of the Zone 84. Similarly the rails 44, 18 form a passage 88 leading uphill from the hood 3|. At

the lower end of the Zone B4 and directly in front of the partition 11 is a transverse slot 81 formed in the board 28. Immediately thereabove the board28 is provided in saidV zone 84 with three holes 88 each having a ball supporting seat 89 and on opposite sides are two holes v98 to permit balls to fall through the board 28. In the upper end of said zone are a pair of converging spring fingers 9| which serve to direct balls to the severalholes located therebelow. Y

. On opposite sides of the board 28 and along thetransverse diameter of the circle 8|', 62 are curved rails 92 to form ball passages 93 each leading toa holeV 94 in the board 28, as shown. These passages 93l lead Yfrom the zone 83 and each includes, as shown in Figure 7 an elongated, longitudinally disposed, trap door 95 pivoted at 98 and arranged normally toclose olf a hole 91 in the board 28, and when in hole closing position to support a number of balls. Each door 98 includes a tail extension 98 for a purpose later to appear.

At the inner edge oi each passage 93 is jourv naled a vertical rock shaft 99 as shown in Figure 5 which is projected downwardly through the board 28, and each shaft carrying' at its upper end a bell crank shaped switch |88, normally dispos-ed inthe position shown in Figure 3 to prevent balls from rolling down the passage 93 to the hole 94 at the lower end thereof.

The under side of the board 28 carries a number of pins I8 i, which as shown in Figure 2 carry a metal plate |82 provided with elongated slots |83 to enableV the plate |82 which is supported by heads at the lower ends of the pins |8| to be longitudinally shiftable with respect tothe board 28. This plate |82 at its forward edge isformed with a bracket |84 engageableY by a conventional coil released slide |85. By this means the plate |82 is shifted.

Inis plate 82 is provided with the ball seats l2, 14, 89 heretofore described, and in'ad'dition, with a number of holes and slots to permit balls held on the game board 28 to drop through said plate |82 toa still lower, or ball routing panel later to be described. For instance, forwardly of each seat l88 is Va hole |81. Also below the slot 88 under the cannon 83 and trap door 84 is an elongated slot |88 formed in said plate 82. Within said slot |88 is av cross bar |89 to support the tail n,of the trap door 84 as shown in Figure 9.

Under each trapt door 95 the plate |82 has a slot |8 as shown in Figure 2, the rock shafts 99 projecting downwardly through said slots |8. The tail 98 of each trap Vdoor 95 as shown in Figure 7 normally resting on the rear edge of the Vslot ||8 to hold the trap door 95 in closing position with respect to the hole 91 in the board 28.

Under each hole 98 in the board 28` the `plate 8-'1 the plate |82 has a complementary slotA ||2 normally disposed forwardly of the slot 81 as appears in Figure 9. Under the holes 45, 48 the 'plate 82 `has a slot ||3 and under the holesl 51,

53 theplate |82 has a slot ||4. Similarly, under v5 the cannon'48 and trap door 49 is a'slot ||5 in 1the plate `|82 including across bar ||8 to carry the tail ofthe trap door 49. In the same fashion ftheplate |82zhas a slot and bar ||8 under the; cannon 88 and trap door 8 lthere are large out outs ||9 in the plate |82 vunder the hoods 28, 29 and 38, 3| to accommo- Still further l0 date'vthelcatapults Alater to be described. The

other hoods 21, 32 are disposed laterally of the `side edges of the plate |82 as shown in Figure 2. l5

As shown in Figures 2 and 9 the under side of the plate |82 carries depending studs |28 for slidably mounting a triangularly shaped `thin subplate 2| under the main plate |82. The subplate' |2| has slots |22 to permit the sub-plate 2O |2| to slide on the studs |28 independently of the main plate |82. L

In Figure 8 it will be seen that the front end of the sub-plate |2| carries an upstanding striker |23 which passes upwardly through the slot |88 in 25 the plate |82, through the slot 88 in the board 28 and into the gun barrel 83.

The lower or front edge of this sub-plate 2| is shaped to avoid the slots and holes |81 as shown in Figure 2; At each front corner theSrO plate |2| has pivotally connected to it, as shown in Figure 5, a laterally extending link 24 to the outer ends of which are made fast the vertical rock shafts 99. A pair of springs |28 are suitably connected between the sub-plate |2| and the "35 main plate |82 as shown.

Also as shown in Figures 2 and 9 at its front end the plate 82 carries pins |28 on its under side to slidably support in the same manner a pair of small elongated plates |21, one on each side, said 40 plates extending under' the slots 25 in the board 28. These smaller sub-plates |21 each extend respectively under the two gun barrels 88 and in the same manner as the plate |2| at their rear ends carry an upstanding striker |28. Links 45 |29 connect the sub-plates |21 with the sub-plate |2| for conjoint shifting movement.

These sub-plates |2|, |21 are shifted electricallyr by the action of a solenoid |38 ,fastened to the rear wall l1, the circuit for the solenoid nor- 50 mally being open, but closed when a ball dropping by a binding'pdst |35 connected by an electric 60 wire"|-38 -tothe solenoid |38 as shown' also in YligurelZ. The spring |34 includes a contact |31 to engage a binding post |38 wired by a lead |39 to a battery |48. Adjacent the groove |33 is a parallel groove |4| in the panel |32 that c0m- 65 .municates with the first groove |34, as shown,

said groove |4| being directly under the holes 88, 88 so that when a ball drops through either of said holesit falls into the groove |4| and then rolls into the groove |33 and over the. front end 70 of the flat spring |34. TheV weight of the b-all, of course, closes the contacts |31, |38 to close the circuit described. H

This energizes the solenoid causing its arma- `ture"`"l"42as shown in Figure 8, to pull a link |43 1,7?5

slidingly mounted in a guide |44. The front end of the link |43 has an upstanding arm |45 to engage a bracket |46 secured toy the under side of the sub-plate |2|. Consequently said plate is pulled rearwardly toward the solenoid |39 causing the striker |23 to project a ball lodged on the trap door 64 uphill on the board. The sub-plate |2| also moves the links |24 to rock the shaft 99 to actuate the bell crank switches |66. At the same time through the links |29 the sub-plates |21 are pulled rearwardly to cause the strikers |28 to shoot balls uphill from the guns 48 and 66. These plates |21 also are shifted away from under the holes 25 to permit balls lodged therein to drop through the board 26 for free replay as will later appear.

This shifting of the sub-plates is against the pull of the springs |25, the forward movement being cushioned when a bracket |41 (see Figure 8) strikes a cushion spring |48 on the guide |44. The circuit is instantly broken when the ball rolls off the contact spring |34 whereupon the springs |25 are instantly operative to return the sub-plates and connected parts to normal position, The return movement of these sub-plates is stopped by a bracket |49 carried on a cross bar |59 which also carries the guide |44. The bar |56 is mounted on the cabinet sides as shown in Figures 8 and 9 by brackets I5l.

As shown best in Figure 6 the panel |32 is formed with a plurality of grooves to lead balls dropping through the top board 29 and plate |62 to the front edge of the panel |32. For example, a groove |52 receives balls dropping through the holes 59 and 94. A groove |53 receives balls falling from the seat 12 in hole 1| and complementary hole |56 in the plate |62, as well as balls released through the slot 91 off door 95 at the left hand side of the game.

A groove |54 takes balls dropping through the holes 51, 58, while a groove |55 receives balls dropping through the left hand hole 39 in the zone |34. A bifurcated groove |56 receives balls from the seats 89 in holes 88 that drop through the complementary holes |61 in the plate |62. The groove |33 runs into the groove |55 as shown, while a ball released through the trap door 64 falls through slot |63 in plate |62 into an extension |51 of the groove |56 as shown in Figure 6. In a similar fashion balls dropping through the right hand hole 93 fall into a groove |58; balls dropping through holes 45, 46 fall into a groove |59; a ball dropping from the seat 14 in hole 13 falls into a groove |60; and balls dropping through the holes 13 and the right hand hole 95 fall into the groove |6I. These grooves just described lead tlie balls either to a ball accumulating trough or to any one of a series of catapults, which latter mechanism will next be described.

The side walls of the cabinet carry a transverse rock shaft |52 in a position just off the end and forwardly of the front edge of the panel |32 as shown in Figures 6, 9 and l0. Firmly secured to said shaft |52 are forwardly inclined channelshaped ball receiving catapult members |63, there being one such catapult disposed directly beneath the respective hoods 21, 28, 29, 3U, 3| and 32 heretofore described.

Each catapult channel |63 carries a circuit breaker comprising a flat spring finger |64 secured to the bottom of the channel on the top surface thereof, while on its under surface the channel carries a complementary spring nger |65 with an insulator strip |66 separating the two as shown in Figure 10. The front ends of `rolls onto any catapult |63 the contacts |64, |65

close the circuit to energize the solenoid |69. rThis draws the armature |12 forwardly to pull on a link |13 pivoted thereto and also pivoted to a link |14 secured to the rock shaft |62. Such action rocks the shaft |62 to swing all the catapults simultaneously upwardly and rearwardly as shown in the dotted lines in Figure 9 to project balls thereon uphill on the board 23 from under the several hoods 21 to 32 inclusive. As soon as the ball leaves the catapult the springs |64, |65 separate to open the circuit whereupon the unbalanced weight of the catapults causes reverse rocking movement of the shaft |62 to restore the catapults in the ball receiving position shown in Figure 10.

From the showing of Figure 6 it will now be clear that a ball rolling down the groove |52 must if.

roll onto the catapult |53 in line therewith; the groove |54 leads to a catapult, as do respectively the grooves |55, |58, |59 and 15|. Balls rolling down the other grooves |53, |55, and |60 roll over the shaft |62 and fall onto a chute |15 carl ried on a support |15 mounted on the floor I8. support |15 and chute |16 are appropriately slotted to accommodate the links |13 and |14 as shown in Figure 10.

The chute |16 directs the balls into a transverse trough |11 which is inclined from left to right to direct the balls to a ball lifter |16 operated manually by a conventional pusher |19 carried in the front wall |5. This elevator is of well known form and lifts the balls one at a time from the lower end of the trough |11 into position in the passage 35 to be projected by the shooter 31 in a manner well understood in this art. Another chute |66 returns balls dropping through the slots 25 and 26 to the trough |11. the description of the structural parts of the game, and the manner of playing the same, and its operation will next be taken up.

We will assume the slide |65 has been coin released, as intended, and that all of the ten balls sealed in the cabinet have been delivered to the trough |11. The parts are then as shown in Figures l, 2 and 9 which may be called the game starting position. The player at the front end of the cabinet operates the lifter |13 by the pusher |19 to raise the balls one at a time into position on the board 20 to be projected by the shooter 31, all as is common in the art.

The projected balls from the shooter 31 move through the passage 35 into the top zone 63. In successively shooting the balls we will assume that several of them gravitate into the passage 93 onto the door 95 therein. The gate |66 is in position to hold the balls from rolling to the hole 94 as shown in Figure 3. If now a ball drops through the control hole 68 the circuit maker of Figure 11 becomes operative causing the solenoid |36 to pull the sub-plate |2| rearwardly. This rocks the shaft 99 through the link |24 (see Figure 5) to move the bell crank gate or switch from This completes the ball holding position of Figure 3 to the ball releasing position of Figure 4. The switch is so constructed that only one ball at a time is released for down-hill gravitation through the passage 93 to the hole 94. This is one way for a ball to get out of the zone 63. Of course, the instant this has happened the circuit maker |37, |38 has opened because it is only closed for the instant the ball rolls over the strip |34. Thereupon the springs |26 are immediately operative to restore the sub-plate 2| to its normal position. This restores the switch |06 to its normal position shown in Figure 3.

Now let us consider what happened to the ball that left Zone 63 by falling through the hole 94. Obviously, the groove |52 under the hole 94 received this ball and caused it to roll onto the catapult |63 under the hood 27. As shown in Figure l the weight of the ball closes the circuit maker |64, |65 in the catapult to energize the solenoid |66 causing the linkage |73, |74 Yto rock the shaft |62 carrying said catapult. Thus the catapult mentioned, and as a matter of fact, all of the others too, swings upwardly and rearwardly through a hole 33 in the board to the dotted line position of Figure 9. Obviously, the ball we are discussing will thus be catapulted or thrown up through the board 20 and rearwardly, or uphill thereon into the zone 56 through the passage 52.

Several things might happen to this same ball in zone 56. For instance, if it drops through the hole 57 it passes through the slot ||4 in the plate |02 and into the groove |54 which causes it to roll into the catapult |63 under the hood 28. Again the circuit is made to cause the catapults to swing with the shaft |62, whereupon the particular catapult` under the hood 23 throws the said ball up through cut out 9 in the plate |02, through the alined hole 33 in the board 20 and rearwardly out from underv the hood 28 to roll the ball back, or uphill on the board 20 Ythrough the passage 85 and into the progressively higher scoring zone 84.

Assuming that the same ball now drops through the hole 86 on the left hand side of the zone 34 then it is taken by the groove |55 in the panel |32 and led to the Vcatapult under the hood 29. Said catapult in the manner described catapults the said ball back onto the passage 80 whereupon the ball gravitates from the highest scoring zone 78 downhill into the main object or goal pocket 26, where the ball is supported by the plate |02 thereunder. In the manner thus described any ball may be moved successively from the zone 63 to the zones 56 or 43; thence to Zone 84; and nally to zone 78 and the ultimate object pocket 26. The design of the Zones and ball trapping and moving mechanism is symmetrical on` opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the game, so that obviously both sides thereof function, alike.

Other things can happen to a ball in the Zone 63. For instance, it could drop through one of the holes 69, into groove |52 and actuate the same catapult set into operation by balls from the hole 94 and the same successive movement thereof through the several zones, as has been. described, is possible. A ball dropping through the hol-es 70 does the same thing except on the right hand side of the game, the groove |6| taking the ball in such case.

If a ball falls into the holes 7|, 73 in said zone 63 the Seats 72, 74 therein hold the ball and thus balls in said holes are held against any further action. Y

Another possibility in the Zone 63 is for a ball to lodge on the seat 64 adjacent the muzzle end of the gun 63. Thereafter if a subsequent ball is dropped through the hole 68 the solenoid |30, in the manner already described, is operative to shift the sub-plate |2| to operate the striker |23, whereupon the ball on the seat or trap door 64 is back rolled uphill into the hole 66. As the ball drops through hole 66 it causes a repeat operation of the solenoid |38 once more to operate all parts connected with the sub-plate |2i, as for example the gate switches |06. The balls which drop through the control holes 66, 68 roll down the groove |33 and |56 to the lower end of the board |32 where they` jump' or roll over the shaft |62 onto the chute '|3 for delivery into the trough |77 for free replay in a manner that will be readily understood.

Other things than have been described may happen to balls getting into the zone 5,6 from the projection passage 52. For instance, a ball might lodge on the trap door 6| adjacent the gun 68 and be fired uphill toY the'hole 58 when another ball drops through either hole 66, 66 to operate the solenoid |36. As has been described, this shifts the subeplate |2 and, of course, with it the connected subeplate |27, thus moving the striker |28 for the gun 60. The ball dropping thus through the hole 58 moves to a catapult by means of the groove |54 to be catapulted into the succeeding zone 84.

Still another thing can happen in zone 56, for

a ball can lodge in the pocket 25 where it is supported by the sub-plate |27. However, every time the sub-plate |27 is shifted such balls contained in the pocket 25 would be returned toV the trough |77 for free replay. The same possibilities for action may occur in` the right hand corresponding zone 43.

In considering the zone 84 there was described what happens to a ball falling through either hole 90. In addition other things could happen to balls in thisrzone 84. For instance, balls may be taken out of play against further movement should they lodge on any of the seats `89 inthe holes 88; or balls in said zone may be taken out of play by gravitating into the slot 87 where they remain supported by the plate |02.

This takes care of all possibilities of action and quite obviously it must no-w be appreciated that the` mechanism provides an unusual player interest. Eventually all of the predetermined number of balls which, as has been said is ten, are lodged in out of further play positions, as for example, in the pockets 25, 26, 87, 89, 72, 74 or on any of the trap doors 64, 95, 49 and 6|. Such balls are restored or returned to the trough |77 for a subsequent play cycle by actuating the coin release slide 05 which abuts the bracket |64 to: shift the plate |02 rearwardly. Such action removes the support from under each of the doors 64, 95, 48 and 6| so that balls thereon drop respectively through openings |08, H0, ||5 and ||7 in the plate |02 and into the ball return grooves |57, |56 for the door 64; into grooves |53 and |60 for the doors 95; into groove |53 for the door 6|; and into groove |60 for the door 48.

At the same time while the plate |02 is so shifted the ball falls 01T seat 72 in hole 7| to dro-p through hole |06 in plate |02 and into groove |53, for return to the trough |77; while a ball from, the seat 74 in the hole 'i3 fall's through the adjacent hole |06 in the plate |02 to fall into the groove |60 for return to said trough Balls from the seats 89 in the three holes 88 fall through the adjacent holes |01 in the plate |02 and drop into the bifurcated groove |56 for return to the ball delivery trough Ill'.

Balls from the pocket 81 fall through the hole I2 in plate |02 and thence into the groove |56; while those balls in the pocket 26 drop onto the chute |80. As the plate |02 is manually shifted it picks up the sub-plates |21 to shift them from under the holes 25 to cause return of any balls that may be therein. This accounts for all ten balls and the action described, of course, takes place instantly when the plate |02 is shifted. Any conventional spring means, not shown, serves to return the plate |02 to its forward, game playing position. The game is now ready for another play cycle.

It is the intention to cover all changes and modications not departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A game comprising a board inclined from the horizontal and having a plurality of holes formed therethrough, means for projecting ballsover the board to fall through said holes, an inclined panel below the board having alleyways thereon to receive the balls dropping through said holes, a cross shaft adjacent the lower edge of the panel having swingable members thereon to receive the balls from the alleyways, and means to swing said members simultaneously to throw the balls upwardly back onto the board to roll them uphill thereon.

2. A game comprising a board inclined from the horizontal and having a plurality of holes formed therethrough, means for projecting balls over the board to fall through said holes, an inclined panel below the board having alleyways thereon to receive the balls dropping through said holes, a cross rock shaft adjacent the lower edge of the panel, catapult members fastened to said shaft, one for each of the alleyways to receive the balls respectively therefrom, an-d electrical means controlled by a ball rolling onto a catapult member to simultaneously rock the shaft and the catapults to cause the balls to be thrown back onto the board and to be rolled uphill thereon.

3. A game comprising an inclined game board segregated on its top surface into separate ball rolling Zones, means for rolling a ball into one of said zones, said ball falling through a hole formed in the said one of said zones, and means for then successively causing said ball to be elevated and thrown into another of said zones, there being a hole in said last named zone through which the ball may drop, said means thereupon adapted again to elevate the ball and throw it into still another of said zones.

4. In a game of the character described, an elongated, longitudinally inclined, playing board having a plurality of ball retaining holes therein and also having an additional hole and a special hole through which a ball projected onto the board may drop, means for projecting a group of balls, one at a time over the board for gravitation down the board, releasable means for holding a ball in said additional hole, means for automatically releasing said holding means when a ball drops through the special hole, the combination with said board of means for automatically discharging back onto the board for roll toward the ball retaining holes a ball released from said additional hole as the result of release of said holding means.

5. In a game of the character described, an inclined board having a plurality of ball retaining holes therein and also having releasable means for retaining a ball projected over the board, means for projecting a group of balls, one at a time, over the board for gravitation down the board, means controlled by a ball in play for releasing the ball retaining means, the combination with said board of automatic means for propelling in the direction of said retaining holes a ball released by said retaining means.

6. A game board of the character shown and described and having openings therethrough for balls to roll into, a sli-ding panel thereunder for holding said balls in said openings, means for impelling a ball onto said board, means for moving said panel to release balls in said openings, boundary means dividing said board into difierent areas or zones to prevent balls from rolling from one of said areas into another area while rolling on the surface, ball-impeller means under said board operable by action of a ball rolling to said ball impeller to impel the ball upwardly through said board, means under said board for receiving balls through certain of the openings in said board and guiding them to said ball impeller, whereby said ball is impelled through said board Within one of said areas.

HERBERT G. BREITENSTEIN. 

